Folding case or box



(No Model.)

0. W. GOOD 8?: A. RUFENER.

FOLDING CASE OR BOX.

No. 600,912. Patented Mar. 22,1898.

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FOLDING CASE OR BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,912, dated March22, 1898.

Application filed May 24, 1897. Serial No. 637,875. (No model.)

. the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in folding cases or boxesspecially adapted for shipping eggs, although we claim the right to Iuse the case for shipping any character of goods for which it could beused.

The main object of our invention is the provision of a box or case whichcan be folded to occupy a very small amount of space,which can be put inposition for use in an instant and form a perfect shipping-case,whichwill be light in weight, although possessing strength and durability towithstand the hard usage to which it may be subjected, and which will be2 5 thoroughly efficient and practical for the intended purposes andinexpensive of production.

To attain the desired objects, the invention consists of a folding caseorbox embodying o novel features of construction and combination ofparts,substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our case or box with partserected ready for shipping. Fig. 2 represents a similar View of the casefolded or collapsed, and Fig. 3 represents a top plan View with the lidthrown back.

The numeral 1 designates the top or cover, made in two sections,provided on the inner 0 side with hinges 2 and at the front end providedwith notches or recesses 3, and at the front end of the other sectionprovided with notches or recesses 4,the purpose of which will presentlyappear, and to the sectional cover 5 by means of hinges 5 is connectedthe back side 6, to which and the front side 7 are connected the ends ofthe hinged plates 8, forming the vertically-folding sectional ends ofour crate, which are provided at their lower ends with the flanges 9,against which and the plate 10 on the front side of the box rests thehinged bottom 11 of our box. The front side 7 is provided on the innerface and centrally thereof with the strip 12, provided with a kerf orrecess 13, with which engages the flanged end 14 of the division-wall15, hinged at 16 tothe rear or back side 6, whereby when the box isopened the division-wall engages in the keeper or strip on the frontside and divides the box or case into two equal-sized compartments, andalso rests upon the sectional bottom and serves to sustain the bottomrigidly, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the manner of setting up and using our box or case will be readilyunderstood, and we will simply state that when the box is openedtoreceive eggs or other articles for shipment the end sec.- tions arespread out to a vertical position and the hinged division-wall engagesthe keeper or strip on the front side, sustaining the bottom and frontsides in proper position and also dividing the case into twocompartments, and the lid is lowered and covers the case neatly andsnugly, and the latches 17 engage the notches or recesses 3 and securelylock the lid and make a complete shipping-case.

When the box is collapsed the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 2and the latches engage the recesses 4 of the cover and hold the parts inthe proper closed or collapsed position, as is apparent.

To adjust the parts to make a box or case ready for use, it is simplynecessary to release the rods 17 from engagement with a section of thetop, swing the top back out the way, then straighten out the sectionalside walls until they are parallel, then push down the hinged bottomuntil it is in its proper place, then swing the hinged division-Wallfrom the back toward the front, where it is held in its proper place,and then the lid can be closed down and held in its place by the end ofthe rod.

To fold or collapse the box, it is simply necessary to reverse theoperation of forming the box, and the box will then assume the posi*tion shown in Fig. 2.

. It will thus be seen that we provide a shipping-case which isinexpensive of production and which will save money to the shipper byreason of its lightness in weight combined with strength and durability,also that it performs its functions perfectly and certainly, desirablefor the shipment of fragile or perish able goods, and also that it canbe quickly set up or collapsed, as circumstances require.

We claim- 1. A shipping-case consisting of the front and back sides, thesectional collapsible ends connected to said front and back sides, thesectional top and bottom connected to the front and back sides andhaving'keepers, and the swinging latches formed on the pintles or rodsof the hinges carried by the end sections and engaging the keepers tolock or fasten the top in position.

2. A shipping-case consisting of the front and back sides, the top andbottom made each in two hinged sections, the sections of the top beingeach provided with recesses or keepers, the end sections connected tothe back and front sides, and the swinging latches forming a means toengage the two sets of recesses on the sections of the top to lock theparts of the case when opened and collapsed.

3. A folding box or case consisting of the front and rear sides, thecollapsible or hinged sectional ends connected to said sides and havingflanges at their lower ends, the pintles or rods of the hinges of saidends being formed with latches, the bottom restingupon said flanges, thedivision wall or plate hinged to the rear side and engaging the frontside to form compartments and sustain the parts in position, the tophinged to the rear side and having keepers to receive the latches of the'pintles.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES XV. GOOD. ALFRED RUFENER. Witnesses:

HARLEY D. MINNIcK, J. J. DOYLE.

